A total blast that will have you cheering, grinning, and geeking out, Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is a pure adrenaline rush of epic fun!
Sonic Movie 3 Review
When the post credits rolled on Sonic 2 and when got a glimpse at the blue blur's greatest frenemy the excitement in the theater was insane. Shadow the Hedgehog was coming. The anticipation grew from there, who would voice him? How would his powers look in the film? Would the action and story live up to what we want? With each announcement (Keanu Reeves as Shadow!!) and glimpse (the teaser trailer amped up the hype) I just knew that Sonic Movie 3 would be insanely awesome in all the best ways. After watching it for the first time – I already have tickets for this weekend too – I can say that not only did it meet my expectations but exceeded them. This film serves as a giant geeky love letter to Shadow fans that will immediately put a big ol' smile on your face.
Sonic 3 is a total blast from start to finish. It balances humor with heart (Shadow's story will tug at your heartstrings regardless of how well you know it) all while serving up adrenaline-pumping action. The visuals have only gotten better over the three films with this entry truly capturing Sonic's speed and Shadow's chaos energy perfectly. This time around the stakes are higher, the trouble is doubled (Jim Carrey is brilliantly mad), and the needle drops coupled with the score are fire. I know you're waiting for that song and you won't be disappointed. We have been waiting for this showdown for a long time and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 delivers.
On Prison Island, Shadow (Keanu Reeves) has been kept in stasis for 50 years, but suddenly someone has decided to wake him up. Angry at the world, Shadow easily defeats all the armed guards, breaks out and finds himself standing in Tokyo where he learns just how long he has been a captive. He vows to avenge his friend Maria (Alya Browne) and that's where Team Sonic comes in. Called in by G.U.N. (Guardian Units of Nations), Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), and Knuckles (Idris Elba), along with Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie (Tika Sumpter), must find a way to stop Shadow. Reluctantly, they team up with Dr Robotnik (Jim Carrey) – who is looking worse for wear – but when his grandfather (also Carrey) resurfaces, it becomes a race to save the Earth.
The film opens with the mystery and drama surrounding Shadow before taking us back to Montana where the previous films have taken place. The found family is camping in the woods. Maddie and Tom watch as their three boys race each other in a goodnatured sibling rivalry to see who is the best Wachowski. It sets the stage well for what is to come as the heart (family and teamwork) balances with the humor (Sonic is full of quips) which in turn crashes against the seriousness of Shadow. Once you see him kick butt, then stand in the rain looking like John Wick as he growls out “I've been asleep for 50 years?” you'll agree with Knuckles that he was way more impressive than the last hedgehog.
Visually the films have been dragged for their lack of color although I never really took an issue with it as they all fit the environment that Sonic 1 and 2 were staged. However, this time the saturation has been cranked up and our trio plus Shadow stand out in all ways for some eye-candy gamers are going to love. All of their powers look crisp, crackling with energy that practically leaps off the screen. There are also a lot of visual references – Akira slide, Mission Impossible, and the aforementioned John Wick to name a few – worked in courtesy of Fowler and cinematographer Brandon Trost. Fowler found his stride with the staging of the action in Sonic 2 and has once again leveled up here. Motorcycle stunts, chase scenes, hedgehog vs hedgehog fights, all of it flows together for one speedy good time.
And I do mean speedy. The runtime flies by as the story races along to the big third act battle but that doesn't mean we don't get quality time with the characters. Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails aside, the biggest scene stealers are, to no one's surprise, Reeves and Carrey. Pulling double duty as both Dr. Ivo Robotnik and his grandfather Professor Gerald Robotnik means Carrey finally has a screen partner that can match his zany energy…himself. This is peak 90s Jim Carrey and I would almost bet my cool Sonic gear that writers Pat Casey, Josh Miller, and John Whittington just let him run with whatever kooky idea came to mind. Whether he is playing bongos on his belly, being overly dramatic with Agent Stone (Lee Majdoub), or dancing, he gives it 120% complete with facial expressions that would make The Mask proud.
It's no surprise that Fowler put a lot of care into bringing Shadow to the screen (he worked on the 2005 Shadow game). Sonic 3 gets his tragic backstory right, making just a few changes to make it work within the confines of the film. These moments with Maria also give us one of the most (if not the most) meaningful lines in the entire trilogy: “A light shines, even though the star is gone.” It might not seem like a tearjerker reading it here but trust me it is. Reeves' melodramatic, raspy vocals match perfectly with the black and red hedgehog's demeanor. Combined with the way they animated him and showed off his powers, I just know Shadow is about to get a whole new generation of fans. Haters will say Shadow is nothing more than a brooding Sonic but he's more than that. He is a dark mirror to Sonic, showing him and everyone what happens when you take the revenge approach to pain and this film showcases this beautifully.
Verdict
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was everything I wanted for Shadow's introduction to the big screen. It had me grinning, cheering, and geeking out from start to finish. It's a visual spectacle that delivers the video game goods for longtime and new fans alike. Sonic 3 maintains the lovable charm of its predecessors while also growing with its audience for a more emotional and serious outing that still knows how to have a good time. Jim Carrey is as wild as ever (someone convince him to do more movies) and Keanu Reeves' Shadow steals the show. Get excited because with those teases… the future looks bright for Team Sonic!
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 races into theaters December 20, 2024. It is rated PG for action, some violence, rude humor, thematic elements and mild language with a runtime of 1 hour 50 minutes.
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